Our young Blues welcomed the Bantams to Kingsmeadow on Saturday afternoon in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

We were the side on top early on and we made that dominance count by scoring an opener through Castledine. He slotted past the goalkeeper to give us our first goal of this year’s competition.

It did not take long for us to grab our second, as the dangerous Mendel-Idowu did well to keep his composure and slot into an empty net after rounding City goalkeeper Thomas Myles.

Isaac Robinson halved the deficit though midway through the first period, as his free-kick was struck to perfection and left Ted Curd with no chance.

A sour note during the second half was that Travis Akomeah had to be stretchered off with what appears to be a leg injury.

Our young Blues scored quickly after the restart of his treatment, as Silcott-Duberry was on hand to tap in after fine work from Louis Flower.

That was how the game would end as a comfortable 3-1 victory sees our boys through safely into the next round.

The game was originally scheduled to be played in December, but the weather proved to be a hindrance on that occasion.

Prior to kick-off, both teams alongside spectators observed a minute's silence for Gianluca Vialli who sadly passed away yesterday.

It was a wet and windy affair in Kingston-upon-Thames but that did not stop the high energy start from both teams.

Mendel-Idowu had the game’s first chance as he glanced a header just wide after a cross from Silcott-Duberry.

Rakealan Jeffers had a go from distance which did not go that far wide of the post as the away side did not shy away from attacking our goal.

Fast start to the new year

We were the side on top in the opening exchanges and we took the lead before the 20 minute mark as Castledine pounced in the box after good work from Mendel-Idowu to slide past the goalkeeper.

Soon after, our lead was doubled as Mendel-Idowu shrugged off his defender to put himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and the winger calmly rounded Myles to give us a deserved second.

It was proving to be difficult for our away side to threaten our backline consistently as the chances continued to come for our young Blues.

Harrison Murray-Campbell darting run down the right saw him muster a shot which the keeper saved with his feet and Castledine with the rebound could not keep his shot from going over the bar.

Pegged back

Halfway through the first period though, a free-kick on the edge of the box taken by Robinson found the back of the net as Curd could not reach the well-placed set-piece. A goal against the run of play for the away side.

Akomeah came close with a string downward header from a corner but fortunately for the Bantams their keeper was in the right place to claim.

Silcott-Duberry had the first chance of the second period as a couple ricochets in the box allowed the ball to fall to his feet, but his shot was saved.

The game was stopped for a long interval following a serious injury to Akomeah, with a collision in the box meaning the centre-back had to be stretchered off.

Shortly after the restart, we created a golden opportunity as Silcott-Duberry fed Mendel-Idowu who sized up his opponent, cut inside onto his left foot and fire on goal but Myles managed to parry his shot over the bar.

Restoring comfort

Silcott-Duberry went close as his curling effort just went past the post, but he eventually did manage to get his goal moments later.

Curd played a long ball in behind the Bradford City backline which found second half substitute Flower. He did well to round the goalkeeper and then square to Silcott-Duberry to tap into an empty net.

Deep into second half stoppage time, Flower despite pressure from a defender unleashed a good shot which was saved well by the Bradford City keeper.

Our young Blues kept possession well, as the third goal gave them the comfort to see the game out as the away side failed to threaten following that third goal.

Our win today means that we face Cambridge United in the fourth round away from home with information on the scheduling of that to follow as and when available.

Academy news

In other Academy news, Travis Akomeah has signed his first professional contract with Chelsea, committing the 17-year-old defender to the club until at least 2025.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Ted Curd; Harrison Murray-Campbell, Travis Akomeah (Josh Acheampong, 62), Brodi Hughes, Somto Boniface; Kiano Dyer, Harrison McMahon, Michael Golding; Zain Silcott-Duberry (Leo Cardoso 89), Leo Castledine (c) (Louis Flower 46), Tudor Mendel-Idowu.

Unused subs: Max Merrick, Sam Rak-Sakyi, Reiss Russell-Denny, Tyrique George.

Scorers: Leo Castledine 19; Tudor Mendel-Idowu 21; Zain Silcott Duberry 69.

Booked: Kiano Dyer 76; Harrison McMahon 89.

Bradford City (4-2-3-1): Thomas Myles, Casey Brakes, Ian Kamga, Nathan Tinsdale, Sam Bentley, Noah Wandsworth (c), Isaac Robinson, Rakealan Jeffers, Donald Kamwa, Jay Tinsdale, Gabe Wadsworth

Unused subs: Ali Dalghous, Munro Gellan, Harry Ipsitson, Dylan Wilkinson, Finley Gledhill, Leon Brooks, James Edgley.

Scorers: Isaac Robinson 31.